Super Eagles boycott AFCON qualifier after being left stranded for 13 hours at Libyan Airport ‘‘ You can have the points, we are not playing’’

Monday, October 14, 2024 - Super Eagles of Nigeria captain, William Troost-Ekong, has threatened that the team would no longer play their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya after being subjected to hostile treatment upon arrival in the country.

The Nigerian team, recall, have been left stranded at the airport after arriving for the matchday four fixture in Libya.

The Nigerian team’s flight, originally scheduled to land in Benghazi, was diverted to another city, forcing them to undertake a two-hour road journey.

On top of that, the players and their staff were held at Al Abaq Airport for over 12 hours, with no permission to leave the arrival hall.

Taking to his social media account to express his disappointment, Ekong lamented how the airport gates had been locked, leaving players and officials with no food, drink, or phone connection.

He said he has never experienced such a treatment like this before while revealing that the Federal Government has been called to intervene in the situation.

“12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Lybia after our plane was diverted whilst descending. Lybian government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi with no reason. They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without phone connection, food or drink. All to play mind games.

“I’ve experienced stuff before playing away in Africa but this is disgraceful behaviour. Even the Tunisian Pilot who thankfully managed to navigate the last minute change to an airport not fit for our plane to land had never seen something like this before.

“Upon arrival he tried to find a nearby airport to rest with his crew to be denied at every hotel again under Government instruction. He could sleep there but NO NIGERIAN crew members allowed. They have returned to now sleep on the plane which is parked up.

“At this point we have called for our Nigerian Government to intervene and rescue us. As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game. CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow.

“This kind of behaviour, let them have the points. We will not accept to travel anywhere by road here even with security it’s not safe. We can only imagine what the hotel or food would be like given to us IF we continued.

We respect ourselves and respect our opponents when they are our guests in Nigeria. Mistakes happen but these things on purpose have nothing to do with int. football.”